Car crash death
‘is such a waste,’
says father, cop

'It's a tragic situation that's
so senseless. I really feel
for the family.'
Derek Shimatsu
Pearl City police lieutenant

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By Rod Ohira
Star-Bulletin

Derek Shimatsu, a Pearl City police lieutenant, has seen the end results of high-speed crashes too many times before.

"This is such a waste. It's a tragic situation that's so senseless," Shimatsu said about Thursday night's two-car crash on Moanalua Freeway near Aloha Stadium which killed one boy and injured eight others, including three critically.

"I really feel for the family."

While viewing the wreckage, Shimatsu said he thought about his own 14-year-old son.

"He's getting to the age when he'll be asking for his drivers license," Shimatsu said.

"How do I teach him to drive safely and follow the rules of the road? Sometimes, it's not how he's driving, but what his friends are doing, like the passenger in this case."

In Thursday's incident, two Acura Integras reportedly were racing at speeds estimated at 80 to 90 mph when they struck a median near the Aiea offramp.

"I don't think this is an isolated incident," Shimatsu said referring to speeding. "It's an ongoing problem around the island.

"Besides normal education and the stepped-up enforcement we're doing, I don't know what we can do."

A 17-year-old boy in the car driven by Ferdinand Valenzuela, 18, was ejected from the vehicle and killed at the scene, police said. He was identified as Allan Magnaye, a junior at Farrington High School.

A boy and two girls remain in critical condition at Queen's Hospital. Three others -- a boy and two girls -- are in guarded and fair conditions.

A boy and girl at Tripler Hospital are in stable condition and may be released today.

All those injured are 15 to 18 years old.